ASSESSING THE US NAVY'S ‘LIGHTNING CARRIER' CONCEPT
Asian Military Review|September/October 2020
In recent years, there has been much debate over the future of the United States Navy’s aircraft carrier force. Voracious have been the critics over the cost and vulnerability of America’s nuclear-powered large-deck carriers (CVNs) in the face of modern anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems such as China’s much-vaunted anti-ship ballistic missiles.
Ben Ho
ASSESSING THE US NAVY'S ‘LIGHTNING CARRIER' CONCEPT

Pundits maintain that concentrating significant combat power in a single 90,000-odd ton supercarrier makes it too big and expensive to fail. The concept of ‘distributed’ operations is the zeitgeist of present-day American naval discourse. Various commentators aver that the US Navy should focus on smaller (read cheaper and more numerous) flat-tops to hedge against the A2/AD threat. To this end, the idea of the ‘Lightning carrier’ was birthed. Simply put, this is about Wasp- and America-class amphibious assault ships deploying a full complement of some 20 F-35B Lightning short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters to function as a small-deck/light carrier. So let’s make a comparison between the ‘Lightning carrier’ and its larger brethren of the Nimitz- and Ford-classes.

The starkest difference between the two types of carriers is their fighter complements. A supercarrier typically deploys with over 40 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets (and in the future F-35Cs), which is twice that of the smaller carrier.

This story is from the September/October 2020 edition of Asian Military Review.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September/October 2020 edition of Asian Military Review.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ASIAN MILITARY REVIEWView All
SMART MUNITIONS INCREASE MARKET SHARE
Asian Military Review

SMART MUNITIONS INCREASE MARKET SHARE

Top attack munitions are now widely developed for different artillery calibers with varied ranges.

time-read
10 mins  |
June/July 2021
NEXT GEN NVGS - A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT
Asian Military Review

NEXT GEN NVGS - A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT

Fused and enhanced night-vision technology will make the difference to soldiers fighting at night.

time-read
8 mins  |
June/July 2021
MILITARY ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT - NO MORE ‘STOVEPIPES'
Asian Military Review

MILITARY ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT - NO MORE ‘STOVEPIPES'

New rotorcraft are going to come with new abilities founded on open systems that provide easier upgrade paths and cheaper through life costs.

time-read
8 mins  |
June/July 2021
INDO PACIFIC UAV DIRECTORY 2021
Asian Military Review

INDO PACIFIC UAV DIRECTORY 2021

The development of unmanned aerial vehicles is growing apace, especially in China. New longer range ISR platforms are also on the procurement list of several nations.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June/July 2021
TIME TO RESET TRILATERAL RELATIONS
Asian Military Review

TIME TO RESET TRILATERAL RELATIONS

United States President Joe Biden has made it a top priority of his Administration to repair and re-energize global alliances during its first year in power. This is a necessary strategic and political calculus made in light of growing global security, public health, and environmental challenges that will require cooperation and multilateral contributions. President Trump’s ‘America first’ policy did much to undermine confidence in such relationships over his time in office.

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2021
SOCPAC KEEN TO SHARE JOINT DOCTRINE AND TRAINING
Asian Military Review

SOCPAC KEEN TO SHARE JOINT DOCTRINE AND TRAINING

The return of Great Power competition means that US SOCPAC is more than ever seeking joint training opportunities with regional special forces.

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2021
MARINE ENGINE POWER - NOT JUST ABOUT KNOTS
Asian Military Review

MARINE ENGINE POWER - NOT JUST ABOUT KNOTS

Navies not only want more engine power, there are also coming under increasing pressure to become environmentally conscious.

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2021
AMPHIBIOUS FORCES
Asian Military Review

AMPHIBIOUS FORCES

New amphibious concepts are re-shaping marine forces to break the A2AD defensive line.

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2021
SPACE V AIRBORNE ISR OR MIX AND MATCH
Asian Military Review

SPACE V AIRBORNE ISR OR MIX AND MATCH

Owning satellite based ISR for military use is still an exclusive ‘club’, but airborne ISR still provides that most countries need.

time-read
9 mins  |
April/May 2021
SHIPBUILDING - A NUMBERS GAME
Asian Military Review

SHIPBUILDING - A NUMBERS GAME

While experience grows among Indo-Pacific naval designers, order numbers remain crucial to keeping costs down and yards in business.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April/May 2021